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Microsoft Windows Print Spooler Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

Risk

High

Date Discovered

August 9, 2005

Description

Microsoft Windows Print Spooler service is prone to a buffer-overflow vulnerability.
Specifically, this issue occurs when the Print Spooler service handles malformed messages containing excessive data.
Exploiting this vulnerability allows attackers to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized remote access, depending on the underlying operating system. A successful attack may allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code, which can allow the attacker to gain SYSTEM privileges.

Technologies Affected

Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server

Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP1

Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP2

Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP3

Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP4

Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server

Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server SP1

Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server SP2

Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server SP3

Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server SP4

Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP1

Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP2

Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP3

Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP4

Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP1

Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP2

Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP3

Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP4

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition Itanium

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition Itanium

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Web Edition

Microsoft Windows XP Home

Microsoft Windows XP Home SP1

Microsoft Windows XP Home SP2

Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition

Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition SP1

Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition SP2

Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP1

Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2

Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition

Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition SP1

Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition SP2

Recommendations

Permit local access for trusted individuals only. Where possible, use restricted environments and restricted shells.

Given the possibility of local attacks against some affected operating systems, ensure that only trusted users have local interactive access to vulnerable computers.

Implement multiple redundant layers of security.

Microsoft has released fixes to address this vulnerability in supported platforms.
Microsoft has advised that some users may experience problems with network printing after installing
security update 896423 on a computer that is running Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4. Please see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 908506 for more information.

Disclaimer
The information in the advisory is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing based on currently available information. Use of the information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are no warranties with regard to this information. Neither the author nor the publisher accepts any liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage arising from use of, or reliance on, this information.

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